Pastor Jason was born in Georgetown, SC in 1982. He is a native of Myrtle Beach, SC. After graduating from Emmanuel College with a degree in Christian ministry, Pastor Jason went on to serve as a Student Pastor, and Worship Pastor before assuming the role of Lead Pastor at The Refuge. He married the love of his life, Chloe in 2005. In 2018, they were blessed with their miracle daughter, Alice Holland Cook. Pastor Jason loves the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and loves to see people leave their life of shame & regret and exchange it for a new life in Christ. In his spare time, Pastor Jason loves to ride his Harley Davidson and enjoys his fur baby, Tiny.
Pastor Vernie & Tonya Batten serve as the Student Ministries Director at Refuge, INC. Pastor Vernie has served in the SCIPHC as a Lead Pastor for 5 years, and Student Pastor in the Lake View PH Church for 5 years. He and His wife Tonya met in High School and were married in 1994. They have since been blessed with 4 amazing children: Austin, Collin, Brendan, and Eli. One thing that has been consistent in their ministry, is that God has been faithful. As a team, they have seen God do tremendous wonders. In 2015, they answered a new challenge to join the team at The Refuge in Conway, SC. They strongly believe the best days are yet to come in the kingdom of God. Pastor Vernie is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Pastor Samuel & Courtney Schneider
Worship Pastor Conway Campus
Pastor Samuel Schneider is married to Courtney and they have two wonderful children, Judah and Sophia. They joined the Refuge team in 2018. He believes worship is more than a song or a feeling but a declaration from your heart. His desire is for a life-changing encounter with God. He has been involved in music ministry for over 15 years. He loves to spend time with his family and visiting new places.
“Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Pastor Benji Wham was born and raised in the upstate of South Carolina. He studied Christian Ministries at Emmanuel College. He has served in full-time youth and children’s ministry for over 12 years, and has been active in ministry since he was a sophomore in high school. Benji and Patty will be installed as the new lead Pastors at the Refuge Church in Murrells Inlet in October of 2016. They were most recently the Associate Pastors at Georgetown Pentecostal Holiness Church where they served under Senior Pastors Greg and Sarah Thompson.
Benji and his wife, Patty, also, serve as spiritual advisors to the Georgetown High School Football team and are very active in the local schools and the Georgetown Community. He is also the “Voice of the Bulldogs” on WGTN radio where he provides play by play of every Georgetown football game.
Benji and Patty’s vision is to “equip people to impact their world for Christ.” It is their desire to help people know God, discover the gifting God has placed inside of them, and then release them to help impact their world. Pastors Benji and Patty live in Georgetown, SC and have been married for over 12 years. They have a 2 year old son named Benjamin Joseph “B.J.”
Pastor Jon & Cathy Hunter
Senior Pastor
Savannah Bluff Campus
Pastor Jon Hunter was born on January 3, 1964 in Logan County, West Virginia where he was raised in a Christian home until he graduated high school at age eighteen. Pastor Jon joined the United States Army in 1982 and studied at the University of Maryland’s European Campus and the Chicago College in Germany while enlisted. He was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces in 1987. Shortly after being discharged, he started his ministry for Jesus Christ. Pastor Jon was ordained as a minister of the Holiness Churches in March of 1993. In 2005, he married the love of his life, Cathy D. Preece. Since moving to the Horry County area of South Carolina in 2008, he and his wife Cathy have attended IPHC (International Pentecostal Holiness Church) churches. Jon Hunter was recently installed as the Senior Pastor the Refuge Savannah Bluff Campus. Pastor Jon is licensed minister of the SCIPHC.